In a memorandum circular, Puno called on provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays to organize their own Earth Hour event in their jurisdictions by undertaking several activities, among them the announcement of Earth Hour during flag-raising ceremonies; hanging of banners, streamers or tarpaulins to generate awareness on the event; switching off of non-essential lights and electrical appliances at the provincial, city and municipal halls for one hour or at least within the Earth Hour on March 27 (Saturday at 8:30 PM); and the use of fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs in government installations.

“These activities will contribute a great deal in addressing global warming and in ensuring a sustainable future for the present generation and the generations to come,” the DILG Chief said.

Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund or WWF and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

A report from the WWF said that it has already received support from 656 cities, towns and municipalities in 80 countries across every continent for the Earth Hour 2010.

Last year, for Earth Hour 2009 nearly one billion people in 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents turned out. International landmarks that turned off their lights included the Great Pyramids of Giza, Parthenon in Athens, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament in London, Paris’ Elysee Palace and Eiffel Tower, Beijing’s Birds Nest and Water Cube, Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong, Sydney’s Opera House and Christ de Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

This year, the Las Vegas Strip, Mount Rushmore, Sea World, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge will join other iconic landmarks from around the world in switching off the lights for Earth Hour. CN Tower in Toronto , Grand Palace in Bangkok , Table Mountain in Cape Town , the London Eye, Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Taipei 101 will plunge into darkness to shed light on dangerous climate change.

In the second half of last year, the Philippines fell victim to super typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng which claimed many lives, billions worth of damages to property, agriculture and infrastructure and left many parts of the country deep in floodwater. Both weather disturbances were attributed to the debilitating effects of climate change

“My family and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Secretary Remonde. I lost both a friend and an esteemed colleague,” Puno said. “We were all shocked by his sudden passing and we will miss him greatly.”

Puno said Remonde was a multitalented public official having held various posts in government prior to his post as Press Secretary in the Arroyo administration.

He noted that Remonde rose from the ranks to become a member of the Cabinet, from being .a member of the appeals board of the Movie Television and Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and Commissioner of the Communications Committee for UNESCO.

Puno recalled that the late Press Secretary was also formerly the head of the Government Mass Media Group and Director General of the Presidential Management Staff and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Ronnie Puno’s vast experience as the Interior Secretary made the job very easy for him, proposing changes in the local government setup.

One of his proposal is to deprive mayors and governors of the right to choose their police chiefs and just have Camp Crame assign officers to towns, cities and provinces without consulting local officials.

What happened in Maguindanao, where the provincial and town police chiefs knew about the massacre beforehand, is a case in point, Puno told Ramon Tulfo in a recent interview.

Puno said that these groups often end up as private armies of some politicians. He also added that the government has already taken steps to control private armies such as the proclamation of a firearms amnesty and limiting the bodyguards of politicians to 2 uniformed personnel.

President Arroyo recently formed a commission that will dismantle all private armies in the country as well as to conduct an independent probe into the Maguindanao massacre, which killed 57 innocent civilians including a number of journalists last November 23.

Sec. Ronnie Puno clarified in a radio interview that local government units would still have to be led by elected local officials, not “military mayors.”

“We will abide by the rule on succession. If the mayor is not available, the vice-mayor [will take charge] and then down the line,” he said.

Martial Law has been declared in the province of Maguindanao today, suspendeding the writ of habeas corpus in the province except “for certain areas,” enabling the military to make arrests without court intervention.

A total of 57 people were killed in the Ampatuan town few weeks ago.

Sec. Ronnie Puno also ordered ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan to submit copies of the reports he had submitted to the Office of the President regarding the use of funds and financial assistance released to the region from the fourth quarter of 2008 up to the present.

Ampatuan was ordered to submit the reports within three days upon his receipt of the Secretary’s directive dated Dec. 1.

The Secretary also requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to clear with the DILG all future releases of funds to the ARMM and to help it in conducting a performance review of the Office of the ARMM Regional Governor.

Puno likewise asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit of the ARMM’s special funds and subsidies for this year and furnish the DILG a copy of its report on the autonomous region for 2008.

He also requested the Civil Service Commission to help the DILG in carrying out a personnel audit of the Office of the ARMM Regional Governor.

The President has the constitutional mandate to exercise general supervision over the autonomous regions to ensure that all laws in such areas are faithfully executed.

Last Nov. 27, President Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 273, which transfers such powers of general supervision over the ARMM from the Office of the President to the DILG.

Through a department order, Puno named Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus as chairman of the task force that would assist him in carrying the task. Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero, Assistant Secretary and Special Action Officer for Mindanao Concerns Sali Wali, Bureau of Local Government Supervision Director Rolando Acosta, and Police Director Sukarno Ikbala Sr. were assigned as members of the task force.

Ikbala, who is the director for human resources and doctrine development of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will likewise act as the executive officer and spokesman of the task force, Puno said in his directive.

“The Task Force is hereby authorized to mobilize other officials and technical staff of the Department,” Puno said.

In Department Order No. 1195, Puno said the task force will assist him in “ensuring that all the functions and duties of the Office of the Regional Governor [of the ARMM and its local government units] are performed in accordance with laws.”

The task force will likewise help the Secretary in undertaking the necessary performance and financial reviews; implementing management actions to improve overall performance and accountability; and coordinating other national government actions in the ARMM.

The task force is also authorized to adopt “other necessary measures, steps or actions to enhance governance in the ARMM,” Puno said.

Puno ordered Corpus to submit to him weekly reports on the progress of the work done by the task force.

Puno said that hours after the heinous crime was uncovered last Monday, the government had immediately created a crisis management committee led by Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza—on top of the local crisis management panel formed to investigate the incident—to take measures that led, among others, to Thursday morning’s surrender of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mayor of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao, to Dureza at the provincial capitol.

“We gave him an ultimatum yesterday and we gave him until 10 o’ clock this morning,” Puno said.

He said that had Ampatuan refused to board the plane that would take him to General Santos City enroute to Manila, both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were prepared to take action and exert all physical force necessary to ensure that he is brought to inquest by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a press briefing held in Camp Crame, Puno said that as of that time, Ampatuan was now on his way to General Santos City after being taken from the Provincial Capitol grounds. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, along with several witnesses to the incident, will await Ampatuan in General Santos City and will fly him to Manila.

On top of taking custody of Ampatuan, who is a suspect in the massive killings, Puno said four police officers allegedly involved in the incident were removed from their posts and were already placed under restrictive custody since Monday.

The police officers of the Maguindanao PNP Provincial Office—Senior Supt. Agusana Maguid, Officer in Charge; Chief Insp. Sukarno Dicay, OIC, deputy police director; Senior Insp, Ariel Diongson, OIC, Group Director 1508th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG); and Senior Police Officer 2 Badawi Bakal;, OIC of the Datu Ampatuan Police Station–will also be flown from Cotabato City to join Ampatuan and several other suspects in inquest proceedings to be held in Camp Crame.

These four officers, along with Insp. Armando Mariga, OIC, Group Director of the 1506th PMG and Insp. Saudi Mokamad, OIC, Group Director of the 1507th PMG were all administratively relieved from their posts.

“What we did was to focus on three general areas: take physical control, conduct an honest-to-goodness investigation that will yield evidence that will hold up in court…. and informing the public of developments and keeping confidential first information of sensitive character, measures that need to be implemented first before we can report it to the media,” Puno said.

“This is something our society cannot accept; our enforcers of the law cannot accept. We are sorry if we were not been very open about all the things we have been doing. We have all been bound by the exigencies of the work we have to do,” Puno said.

He said the government is determined to get all those involved, in one way or another, in the commission of the heinous crime.

Puno said Ampatuan, who is the son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., and other suspects will be detained in Camp Crame.

The DILG chief said that besides these measures, the government has also replaced all police officers in Maguindanao; secured the provincial capitol building along with the municipal halls of Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak, and placed under investigation all policemen of the Ampatuan police station for possible complicity in the crime.

Law enforcers, Puno said, also ensured that the four companies of Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary (SCAA) units in the area were deactivated and all of their 347 members combined were disarmed.

The DOJ, Puno said, has also quietly taken the deposition of all witnesses who would provide strong evidence for the government to be able to build an airtight case against those responsible for the massacre.

He said that Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera was set to return to Manila Thursday afternoon with all the witnesses to the crime.

Moreover, the Napolcom, which Puno chairs has unanimously adopted a resolution withdrawing the deputation powers of Maguindanao Gov. Ampatuan Sr. and all mayors of the municipalities in the province which effectively strips them of all their powers over the local PNP in their respective areas of responsibility.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, for his part, said that all permits to carry firearms have been indefinitely suspended in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City,

Verzosa said he is also reiterating his earlier recommendation to limit the assignment of police officers to government officials to only two close-in security aides who should all be in proper uniform when on duty.

Given that national agencies like the DILG have no jurisdiction over government agencies in autonomous regions, Puno said he will ask permission from the Office of the President for the Department to investigate all local executives who will be implicated in the massacre and to place all of them under preventive suspension pending such a probe.

“Forceful measures have been taken quietly since Monday while not allowing armed groups, including the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) from taking control of the area,” Puno said.

He said it was the quick response by the military to secure the site of the crime and pursue these perpetrators actually prevented these assailants from burying all of the dead and their vehicles.

In a memorandum released by DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno, he said that LGU’s must protect the right of every Filipino child, including the right of survival, development, protection and participation. He also added that the children holds the key to a continued development and growth of the country.

DILG has helped out Local Government Units in 24,093 barangays, 54 provinces, 101 cities and 963 municipalities across the country with its Children Protection Program.

Article 87 of Presidential Decree No. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as well as Section 15 of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, provide for the establishment and strengthening of the LCPCs down to the barangay level.

“When I talked to Edu, walang conditions siyang binigay and he said I’m willing to support you all the way, 100 percent,” Teodoro said. “Ang loyalty na ganyan ang katangian ng isang mabuting Pilipino. Ako po ay tuwang tuwa at nagagalak na tinanggap ng ating katambalan ang aking alok sa pamamagitan ni Secretary Puno na maging kandidato sa pagka-bise presidente ng aming partido.”

Giving a preview of what the administration’s slogan would be during the campaign, Teodoro said: “Pag-asa at kinabukasan sa tambalang Teodoro at Manzano sa ilalim ng Lakas-Kampi CMD!”

“We have the best candidates. Feeling ko talaga I’m in the middle of history here,” Puno said. “Now I know that my decision to set aside my plans to run for vice president was the right thing to do. We have come up with the right formula.”

Manzano on the other hand cited Puno for convincing him to accept Teodoro’s offer. “Many of you may not be of the knowledge that Secretary Ronnie Puno has been like a mentor to me,” Manzano said . “Sabi niya kausapan mo si Gibo. i believe he possesses the qualities needed to move this country forward. I want to be part of his team.”

“So Secretary Teodoro, maraming salamat sa pagtitiwala, at Secretary Puno maraming salamat,” Manzano added.

Ronnie Puno was among the first cabinet members to have raised the possibility of Teodoro as the administration’s presidential bet in 2010, citing the sterling qualifications of the young secretary and his potentials as a national leader.

“The challenges of a campaign are great but the challenges of running a country are even greater…. I felt that it was my obligation after initiating the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro to help him find a partner that would help him bring the country to prosperity and success,” Puno said.

Puno said he had asked the permission of Teodoro to open talks with Manzano, whom he had known for a long time and helped in both his political and personal careers.

“Am I totally committed to them? Yes,” Puno said.

“Decentralization is a key to national and local government development,” Puno said.

The creation of the CCD came after officials and representatives of the participating agencies initialed the final draft of the committee’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in simple ceremony held yesterday at Shangrilla Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The MOU will be sent to the members of the executive committee of the CCD composed of the Secretaries of the DILG, Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic Development Authority, as well as to the members of the policy dialogue group composed of the Presidents of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), for their final signatures.

Puno, who also chairs the CCD, said the committee is vital not only in addressing concerns and issues on decentralization but also in enhancing its implementation as a strategy for developement and progress.

Under the MOU, issues requiring legislative and policy decisions to facilitate the implementation of decentralization under the Local Government Code of 1991 shall be elevated to higher authorities.

The MOU also stipulates that among the functions of the CCD are: to act as an inter-government body for coordinating and harmonizing policies and operational activities related to decentralization and devolution; and explore consensus and build support for policy reforms related to improving local governance, local service delivery and devolution.

Aside from the executive committee and policy dialogue group, the CCD shall also maintain an oversight agency technical working group and a technical secretariat.

Puno said that the scope of the operational concerns of the CCD shall include, capacity building, credit and non-traditional local government finance, local government fiscal matters, budget and expenditure policy, local planning, local service delivery, performance measurement and devolution reforms.